U.S. patent application number 17/396970 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-17 for optical tube bender.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lumitex, Inc.. Invention is credited to Nicolette Diehl, Joseph Dombrowski.
Application Number | 20220048262 17/396970 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005823845 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220048262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dombrowski; Joseph ; et
al. |
February 17, 2022 |
OPTICAL TUBE BENDER
Abstract
A light guide bender (also referred to as an optical tube
bender) is provided including an integrated bending mechanism that
allows the surgical tube to be bent to the appropriate length
(e.g., matching the retractor height). By bending the tube at an
angle, potential obstruction caused by the optical fiber is reduced
and the need to create various lengths of optical tubing is also
eliminated. In one embodiment, the surgical tube may also include
markings designating length of the surgical tube. For example, if
200 mm of surgical tubing is needed, then the marking for 200 mm
can be located on the surgical tubing and the tubing can be bent at
this location.
Inventors: |
Dombrowski; Joseph; (Medina,
OH) ; Diehl; Nicolette; (Brunswick, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lumitex, Inc. |
Strongsville |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005823845 |
Appl. No.: |
17/396970 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63066444 |
Aug 17, 2020 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 53/083 20130101;
G02B 6/0005 20130101; B29D 11/00663 20130101; A61B 90/30 20160201;
A61B 2090/306 20160201 |
International
Class: |
B29D 11/00 20060101
B29D011/00; F21V 8/00 20060101 F21V008/00; A61B 90/30 20060101
A61B090/30; B29C 53/08 20060101 B29C053/08 |
Claims
1. A light guide bender for reshaping a light guide, the bender
comprising: a framework having a contoured receiving surface
configured to receive the light guide, such that: a contacting
portion of the light guide is supported by the receiving surface
with a proximal portion and a distal portion of the light guide
extending away from the rigid framework; and when a force is
applied to the light guide such that the contacting portion presses
against the receiving surface, a contoured portion of the light
guide is generated from a part of the proximal portion of the light
guide being bent based on the contour of the receiving surface.
2. The bender of claim 1, wherein: the framework further includes a
housing having a channel and a projection; the projection includes
the receiving surface; the channel is shaped to receive the light
guide, such that the proximal portion and the distal portion of the
light guide extend away from the framework; the channel includes a
pressing surface opposite the receiving surface; the projection is
mechanically attached to the housing, such that when the force is
applied to the light guide such that the contacting portion presses
against the receiving surface: a cantilevered portion of the light
guide presses against the pressing surface of the housing, wherein
the cantilevered portion of the light guide is distal to the
contacting portion of the light guide.
3. An optical tube arranging apparatus for engaging with a medical
instrument and for reshaping a light guide, the optical tube
arranging apparatus comprising: the bender of claim1; a clip
positionable between an open state and a closed state, wherein: in
the closed state, the clip is configured to engage with a medical
instrument to form an enclosed area bounded by the clip and the
medical instrument; and in the open state, the clip is configured
to be positioned relative to the medical instrument and the light
guide such that: when the clip is transitioned between the open
state and the closed state, the clip engages with the medical
instrument to form the enclosed area such that a portion of the
light guide is retained within the enclosed area.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the enclosed area of the clip
includes an enclosed passage shaped to: receive the light guide; be
slidable along a length of the light guide, and maintain a position
of the clip relative to the light guide.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the clip and the bender are
mechanically connected to form a unitary body.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the clip is separately movable
from the bender.
7. An illuminating system for a medical instrument comprising: a
light guide having a proximal end, a distal end, a length extending
between the proximal end and the distal end, and markings, wherein
each of the markings indicates a distance of the marking from the
proximal end; and the optical tube arranging apparatus of claim
3.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the light guide includes an outer
shell and an optic core configured to transmit light.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the outer shell is metallic.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the optic core includes fiber
optics.
11. An illuminated medical implement comprising a medical
instrument and the illuminating system of claim7.
12. The implement of claim 11, wherein the medical instrument
includes at least one of a retractor or a suction tube.
13. The implement of claim 11, wherein the medical instrument
includes a channel shaped to at least partially receive the light
guide.
14. A method for shaping a light guide using a light guide bender
comprising: positioning the light guide relative to the light guide
bender, such that: a contacting portion of the light guide is
supported by a receiving surface of the light guide bender; and a
proximal portion and a distal portion of the light guide extend
away from the light guide bender; and generating a contoured
portion of the light guide from a part of the proximal portion of
the light guide by applying a force to the light guide, such that
the contacting portion of the light guide presses against the
receiving surface of the light guide bender and is bent based on
the contour of the receiving surface.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: positioning a clip
relative to the light guide and a medical instrument, such that:
when the clip is transitioned from an open state to a closed state,
the clip engages with the medical instrument to form an enclosed
area bounded by the clip and the medical instrument; transitioning
the clip from the open state to a closed state, such that the clip
engages with the medical instrument to form the enclosed area and a
portion of the light guide is retained within the enclosed
area.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising: positioning the
light guide relative to the light guide bender, such that a marking
on the light guide indicating a desired length is adjacent to the
light guide bender, wherein: the light guide includes a proximal
end, a distal end, a length extending between the proximal end and
the distal end, and markings; each of the markings indicates a
distance of the marking from the proximal end.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of 63/066,444 filed on
Aug. 17, 2020. Which is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to surgical
instruments and more particularly to an illumination system for
surgical instruments.
BACKGROUND
[0003] To improve illumination in operating rooms, illuminating
devices may be attached to surgical instruments (e.g., to
illuminate a surgical cavity). For example, surgical retractors may
include surgical tubing (also referred to as optical fiber or light
guide) attached to the surface of the light guide and positioned to
shine into the surgical cavity.
SUMMARY
[0004] Current illuminating systems applied to surgical instruments
do not provide surgical tubing having custom lengths to accommodate
various retractor heights. For example, different surgeries require
different lengths of surgical tubing to illuminate a surgical area.
To accommodate these different needs, either multiple different
lengths of surgical tubing need to be available and selected by a
surgeon or a longer length of surgical tubing is used and any
excess tubing needs to be accounted for outside of the surgical
cavity. The presence of excess surgical tubing is a problem because
the unused surgical tubing may obstruct access to the surgical
site.
[0005] The present disclosure provides a light guide bender (also
referred to as an optical tube bender) including an integrated
bending mechanism that allows the surgical tube to be bent to the
appropriate length (e.g., matching the retractor height). By
bending the tube at an angle, potential obstruction caused by the
optical fiber is reduced and the need to create various lengths of
optical tubing is also eliminated. In one embodiment, the surgical
tube may also include markings designating length of the surgical
tube. For example, if 200 mm of surgical tubing is needed, then the
marking for 200 mm can be located on the surgical tubing and the
tubing can be bent at this location.
[0006] The present disclosure provides a light guide bender
including a framework for shaping a contacting portion of the light
guide when a force is applied to the light guide.
[0007] The present disclosure also provides an optical tube
arranging apparatus including the light guide bender and a clip
configured to engage with a medical instrument and to maintain a
position of the light guide relative to the medical instrument.
[0008] The present disclosure further provides an illuminating
system including the optical tube arranging apparatus and a light
guide having markings indicating a length of the optical tube.
[0009] While a number of features are described herein with respect
to embodiments of the invention; features described with respect to
a given embodiment also may be employed in connection with other
embodiments. The following description and the annexed drawings set
forth certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These
embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various
ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
Other objects, advantages and novel features according to aspects
of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The annexed drawings, which are not necessarily to scale,
show various aspects of the invention in which similar reference
numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts in the
various views.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective of an exemplary embodiment of
a light guide bender.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side perspective of the light guide bender of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the light guide bender
of FIG. 1 including length markings and a straight light guide.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the light guide bender
and light guide of FIG. 3 after the light guide was bent using the
light guide bender.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the light guide bender
and light guide of FIG. 4 without length markings.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a light guide bender and a straight light guide.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the light guide bender
of FIG. 6 after the light guide has been bent using the light guide
bender.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a clip and a light guide.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the clip and light guide
of FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
an illuminating system including a light guide and an optical tube
arranging apparatus including a clip and a light guide bender.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a clip, light guide, and a medical instrument.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the clip, light guide,
and medical instrument of FIG. 11.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a clip attached to a medical instrument and
maintaining the position of a light guide.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of the clip, light guide,
and medical instrument of FIG. 13.
[0025] FIG. 15 is an exemplary embodiment of a clip.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a light guide bender removably attached to a
clip.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the light guide bender
and removably attached clip of FIG. 16.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the light guide bender
of FIGS. 16 and 17 without the clip.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of a unitary light guide
bender and clip.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a rear perspective view of the unitary light
guide bender and clip of FIG. 19.
[0031] FIG. 21 is an exemplary embodiment of a light guide bender
comprising a medical instrument.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the light guide bender of
FIG. 17 and a straight light guide.
[0033] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the light guide bender of
FIG. 17 after the light guide has been bent using the light guide
bender.
[0034] FIG. 24 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for shaping
a light guide using a light guide bender.
[0035] The present invention is described below in detail with
reference to the drawings. In the drawings, each element with a
reference number is similar to other elements with the same
reference number independent of any letter designation following
the reference number. In the text, a reference number with a
specific letter designation following the reference number refers
to the specific element with the number and letter designation and
a reference number without a specific letter designation refers to
all elements with the same reference number independent of any
letter designation following the reference number in the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] According to a general embodiment, a light guide bender is
provided for reshaping a light guide. The bender has a contoured
receiving surface for receiving the light guide, such that when a
force is applied to the light guide, a contacting portion of the
light guide presses against the receiving surface and the light
guide is bent based on the contour of the receiving surface.
[0037] Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of a light
guide bender 10 for reshaping a light guide 12 is shown. The light
guide bender 10 includes a framework 14 having a contoured
receiving surface 16. The receiving surface 16 is configured to
receive the light guide 12, such that a contacting portion 18 of
the light guide 12 is supported by the receiving surface 16 with a
proximal portion 20 and a distal portion 22 of the light guide 12
extending away from the framework 14. The receiving surface 16 is
shaped, such that when a force 21 is applied to the light guide 12
the contacting portion 18 presses against the receiving surface 16
and a contoured portion 26 of the light guide 12 is generated from
a part of the proximal portion 20 of the light guide 12 being bent
based on the contour of the receiving surface 16.
[0038] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the framework 14
includes a housing 30 having a channel 32 and a projection 34. The
projection 34 includes at least a portion of the receiving surface
16. The channel 32 may be shaped to receive the light guide 12,
such that the proximal portion 20 and the distal portion 22 of the
light guide 12 extend away from the framework 14. The channel 32
includes a pressing surface 36 opposite the receiving surface 16.
The projection 34 may be mechanically attached to the housing 30,
such that when the force 21 is applied to the light guide 12 (such
that the contacting portion 18 presses against the receiving
surface 16), a cantilevered portion 38 of the light guide 12
presses against the pressing surface 34 of the housing 30. The
cantilevered portion 38 of the light guide 12 may be distal to the
contacting portion 18 of the light guide 12.
[0039] As shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, the
framework 14 may include the channel 32 and the projection 34,
without the housing 30. Using this embodiment, a user may place
another object (such as a clamp or their hand) on a pushing surface
39 (e.g., the top) of the framework 14 when applying force 21 to
the light guide at a location proximal on the light guide relative
to the pushing surface 39 of the framework 14.
[0040] The framework 14 may be made of any suitable material
sufficiently rigid for the light guide 12 to be bent towards the
framework 14 when a force 21 is applied to the guide 12. For
example, the framework 14 may be made of metal and/or ceramic. The
receiving surface 16 of the framework 14 may include grooved and/or
non-grooved surface as shown in the figures. For example, at least
a portion of the receiving surface 16 may include a depression
configured to receive a portion of the light guide 12. The
receiving surface 16 may also have any suitable contour. For
example, the contour may be less than, greater than, or
approximately equal to (e.g., within five degrees of) ninety
degrees (90.degree.).
[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10, a clip 40
has been positioned along the length of the light guide 12. The
clip 40 may be positionable between an open state and a closed
state. As shown in FIG. 10, the clip 40 may be positioned along the
length for the light guide 12 before the light guide is bent using
the light guide bender. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the bent light guide 12
including the clip 40 have been positioned adjacent to a medical
instrument 42, but the clip 40 has not engaged with the medical
instrument.
[0042] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the
clip 40 is shown in the closed state. In the closed state, the clip
40 is configured to engage with a medical instrument 42 to form an
enclosed area 44 bounded by the clip 40 and the medical instrument
42. In this way, the clip 40 may be used to maintain the position
of the light guide 12 relative to the medical instrument 42.
[0043] In the open state, the clip 40 is configured to be
positionable relative to the medical instrument 42 and the light
guide 12 such that, when the clip 40 is transitioned between the
open state and the closed state, the clip 40 engages with the
medical instrument 42 to form the enclosed area 44 (i.e., such that
a portion of the light guide 12 is retained within the enclosed
area 44). For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the clip 40 may be
biased (e.g., via a spring) to transition towards the closed state
at rest (i.e., when a force is not being applied to the clip 40). A
force may be applied to the clip 40 to open the clip 40 (i.e.,
maintain or transition the clip 40 towards the open state) so that
the clip 40 may be placed adjacent to the medical instrument 42,
such that when the force is removed from the clip 40 the clip 40
closes (i.e., transitions to the closed state) and engages (e.g.,
grabs) the medical instrument 42.
[0044] Returning to FIGS. 8-14, the enclosed area 44 of the clip 40
may include an enclosed passage 46 shaped to receive the light
guide 12. The enclosed passage 46 may enable the clip 40 to be
slidable along a length 48 of the light guide 12 and to maintain a
position of the clip 40 relative to the light guide 12.
[0045] An embodiment of an optical tube arranging apparatus 50 for
engaging with a medical instrument and for reshaping a light guide
is shown in FIG. 10. The optical tube arranging apparatus 50 may
include the light guide bender 10 and the clip 40.
[0046] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16-18, the clip 40 is
separately movable from the light guide bender 10. The clip 40 is
configured to releasably attach to the light guide bender 10. For
example, the clip 40 may attach relative to the receiving surface
16 of the framework 14, such that the pressing surface 36 is a
surface of the clip 40. In the depicted embodiment, the clip 40
attaches to a projection 54
[0047] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the clip 40 and
the light guide bender 10 are mechanically connected to form a
unitary body. For example, the clip 40 and light guide bender 10
may be collectively formed as a single piece. As another example,
the clip 40 and the light guide bender 10 may be separately formed
and permanently attached to one another (e.g., via glue, welding,
etc.). In this embodiment, the clip 40 may be configured to engage
with the medical instrument 42 (e.g., such that the receiving
surface 16 aligns with a channel 55 of the medical instrument).
[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, an illuminating
system 60 is shown. The illuminating system 60 includes a light
guide 12 having markings 62 and the optical tube arranging
apparatus 50. Each of the markings 62 may indicate a distance 66 of
the marking 62 from the proximal end 20 of the light guide 12. As
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the light guide bender 12 may include
scoring 64 for aligning with the markings 62 of the light guide 12
when bending the light guide 12. When the scoring 64 is aligned
with the marking 62 showing the desired length from the proximal
end 20, the light guide 12 may be fixed in place and force 21 may
be applied to the light guide 12 to generate the contoured portion
26 of the light guide 12.
[0049] The light guide may be any suitable malleable structure for
transporting light (e.g., via total internal reflection). For
example, the light guide 12 may include an outer shell 70 and an
optic core 72 configured to transmit light. In one embodiment, the
outer shell 70 is metallic (e.g., steel or aluminum) and/or the
optic core 72 includes fiber optics. In another embodiment, the
outer shell 70 may be a plastic tube having a memory. The optic
core 72 may have a loss of light being transmitted within the optic
core 72 of less than 95%, 90%, 80%, or 75%.
[0050] The light guide 12 may have any suitable cross section that
allows for the light guide 12 to interact with the medical
instrument 42. For example, the medical instrument 42 may have a
channel 55 for receiving the light guide 12 and the light guide 12
may be shaped to at least partially be received into the channel
55. In one embodiment, the light guide 12 has a cross section that
is circular or rectangular.
[0051] The light guide 12 may have any suitable length. For
example, the light guide 12 may have a length of 70 mm or 120
mm.
[0052] The medical instrument 42 may be a retractor (e.g., a
surgical spinal retractor), a suction tube, or any suitable
instrument.
[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21-23, the light guide
bender 12 includes the medical instrument 42. For example, in FIG.
21 a retractor 42 acts as the light guide bender. As shown in FIG.
22, the light guide 12 may be inserted into the retractor 42 and
force 21 may be applied to the light guide 12 to bend the light
guide as shown in FIG. 23. In this embodiment, the housing 30 may
act to maintain the position of the light guide 12 relative to the
medical instrument 42, such that a clip 40 is not needed. However,
in an alternative embodiment, a clip 40 may be included to improve
the attachment of the light guide 12 to the medical instrument 42.
In another embodiment, the medical instrument may not include a
housing 30, but a clip 40 may be attached to the medical
instrument, such that the clip 40 includes the pressing surface 36
as shown in FIG. 16.
[0054] In one embodiment, an illuminated medical implement 70
includes the medical instrument 42 and the illuminating system
60.
[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24, a method 100 for shaping
a light guide 12 using a light guide bender 10 is shown. In step
102, the light guide 12 is positioned relative to the light guide
bender 12, such that a contacting portion 18 of the light guide 12
is supported by a receiving surface 16 of the light guide bender 12
and such that a proximal portion 20 and a distal portion 22 of the
light guide 12 extends away from the light guide bender 10.
[0056] In step 104, a contoured portion 26 of the light guide 12 is
generated from a part of the proximal portion 20 of the light guide
12 by applying a force 21 to the light guide 12. The force 21 is
applied such that the contacting portion 18 of the light guide 12
presses against the receiving surface 16 of the light guide bender
12 and is bent based on the contour of the receiving surface 16.
For example, the portion of the light guide 12 in contact with the
light guide bender 10 stays in place while the portion of the light
guide 12 extending above the receiving surface 16 is bent towards
the receiving surface 16 by the force applied to the light guide
12.
[0057] In optional step 108, a clip 40 is positioned relative to
the light guide 12 and a medical instrument 42. In optional step
110, the clip 40 is transitioned from an open state to a closed
state, such that the clip 40 engages with the medical instrument 42
to form an enclosed area 44 bounded by the clip 40 and the medical
instrument 42. The clip 40 engages with the medical instrument 42
such that a portion of the light guide 12 is retained within the
enclosed area 44.
[0058] In an optional step, the light guide 12 may be positioned
relative to the light guide 12 bender, such that a marking 62 on
the light guide 12 indicating a desired length is adjacent to the
light guide bender 12.
[0059] All ranges and ratio limits disclosed in the specification
and claims may be combined in any manner. Unless specifically
stated otherwise, references to "a," "an," and/or "the" may include
one or more than one, and that reference to an item in the singular
may also include the item in the plural.
[0060] Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, equivalent
alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the
art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and
the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions
performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies,
devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a
"means") used to describe such elements are intended to correspond,
unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the
specified function of the described element (i.e., that is
functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent
to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the
herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the
invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention
may have been described above with respect to only one or more of
several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with
one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be
desired and advantageous for any given or particular
application.
* * * * *